Portable table.



No. 683,264. Patented se t. 24,1901. .J. M. FLEMISTER. PORTABLE TABLE.

(Apphcntlon filed Dec 13 1.990)

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, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MADISON FLEMISTER, (5F VIGAN, LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

PORTABLLE TABLE.

srnorrroarron formingpart of Letters Patent no. 683,264, not se tember 24, 1901.

7 Application filed Ilecem'ber 1-31 1900. Serial No. 39,811. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN MADISON FLEM- 'ISTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vigan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, have invented a new and Improved Portable Table, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in tables, particularly adapted for use as a mess-table in armies, for outing purposes, pleasure-gardens, sample-rooms, and other places; and the object is to provide a table of this character the several parts of which may be folded or rolled together in a comparatively small space for packing and transportation and which when set up for use will be very rigid and strong, yet light.

I will describe a portable table embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section clearly illustrating the manner of attaching the supporting-rails to cross-rails and also the manner of securing the top-formingstrips together. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the end of one of the cross-rails. Fig. 5 shows a pair of legs as folded, and Fig. 6 is an end view showing the table as standing on and secured to the ground.

The support for the table comprises legs 1 2, which may be attached together by means of a cord or the like 3. the legs are designed to be relnovably engaged with cross-pieces 4, a pair of legs being at each end thereof. The upper ends of the legs are provided with metal strips 5,designed to engage in mortises 6, formed in the crosspieces. The upper ends of these plates 5 are bent at such an angle relatively to the legs as to cause thelower portions of the legs to diverge when the said plates are engaged in the mortises, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The supporting-legs and cross-pieces are rigidly held in place on a floor by means of guy-ropes 7 attached to said cross-pieces and The upper ends of and extending between adjacent supporting devices are side rails 10 and center rails 11. These side and center rails have downwardly extended hook portions 12 at their ends to en gagein mortises 13 formed in the cross-pieces, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the said mortises being of sufficient width to receive the two hook portions of the abutting ends of the lon gitudinal rails. The ends of the cross-pieces 4 may be protected or prevented from splitting by metal straps l-t, which in Fig. 4 are shown as secured by means of bolts.

The top of the table is designed to be rolled into compact form for the purpose of packing away or for transportation. I therefore form it of strips 15, having flexible connection one with another. As here shown, this flexible connection consists of cords 16,passed through openings formed in the strips. These strips may be made of any suitable materialsuch, for instance, as metal,wood, or bambooand it is to be understood that the supporting members and the side and center rails may be also made of wood or of metal. In either event the material may be quite thin and light. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A table, having supports comprising pairs of legs at opposite sides, cross-pieces to which the upper ends of said legs are removably attached, flexible connections between the pairs of legs of a side, side strips adapted for removable engagement with said crosspieces, and the folding or rolling top, substantially as specified.

2. A table, comprising supports, each support consisting of two pairs of legs, each pair being flexibly connected together, a crossstrip with which the upper ends of said legs are removably engaged, guy-ropes attached Q asset.

to said cross-strips, anchoring devices for the ropes, side strips having removable engagement with the cross-strips, and a rolling top for the table, substantially as specified.

3. A table, comprising supports, each support consisting of two pairs of legs, metal plates on the upper ends of said legs adapted 1 to engage in mortises formed in cross-strips,

cross-strips in which said mortises are formed, said cross-strips also having niortises for receiving hook portions of side and center strips, side strips and center strips, hook pornumber of strips flexibly connected together, substantially as specified.

5. A table,- comprising supportingdevices, each supporting device consisting of a crosspiece having mortises near its ends, and mortises for receiving hook portions of side and center strips, legs having metal plates at the upper ends bent relatively to the legs so that when engaged with said mortises the legs of a side will diverge downward, guy-ropes attached to the cross-pieces, anchoring devices for the said ropes, side strips, center strips, metal hook portions extended downwardly from the ends of said strips, and adapted to removably engage in the mortises formed in the cross-pieces, and the rolling or folding top for the table, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have, signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN MADISON FLEMISTER.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. DODD, S. L. TATE. 

